Portable shuffleboard

ABSTRACT

A miniature shuffleboard which comprises two sections capable of being quickly assembled to form a table shuffleboard for recreational play and quickly assembled into a neat package which may be easily transported by an individual from place to place. The shuffleboard features corresponding attachment means on each of the sections for aligning and connecting the sections to each other in the assembled position, pivotal legs on each of the sections for supporting the sections in the assembled position, said legs having a latch cooperative therewith for holding the legs in the disassembled position, and magnetic means for facilitating a holding of the sections in the disassembled position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Frank Anguella 1075 Applegate Ave., Elizabeth, NJ. 07202 [21] Appl.No. 750,252 [22] Filed Aug.5, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 [54] PORTABLE SHUFFLEBOARD 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 273/126 [51] lnt.Cl A63f 3/00 [50] FieldofSearch 273/126,

126 (A), 3, 3.4, 136 (B), 136 (D), 136 (G), 108,

(lnquired), 37, 51; 46/241; 108/153, (inquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,270,359 6/1918 Zarling 273/37 1,360,661 11/1920 Malone 273/37 1,980,105 11/1934 Staff 273/37 333,703 1/1886 Vogelsang..... 273/126 753,561 3/1904 Edmunds 273/126 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Anorney-John J. Lipari ABSTRACT: A miniature shuffleboard which comprises two sections capable of being quickly assembled to form a table shufileboard for recreational play and quickly assembled into a neat package which may be easily transported'by an individual from place to place. The shufileboard features corresponding attachment means on each of the sections for aligning and connecting the sections to each other in the assembled position, pivotal legs on each of the sections for supporting the sections in the assembled position, said legs having a latch cooperative therewith for holding the legs in the disassembled position, and magnetic means for facilitating a holding of the sections in the disassembled position.

PATENIED man 19?: 3572,71?

sum 1 UF 2 PORTABLE SHUFFLEBOARD This invention relates to table shufileboards and, in particular, to a portable, miniature shuffleboard which may be assembled for recreational play and disassembled into a neat package in a simple and expeditious manner.

l-leretofore, table shuffleboards have been manufactured generally for use in commercial establishments, said shuffleboards being immovable and cumbersome due to their relatively long lengths and heavy weights. As a result, such shuffleboards were costly, space consuming and, in general, not easily accessible for enjoyment by many segments of the population.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a miniature portable shuffleboard which is capable of assembly for use as a recreational game in easily accessible small size areas, such as in recreation rooms, dens and patios of homes, and capable of disassembly into a neat package for portable transport or storage.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

P16. 1 is an isometric, partially exploded view of the shuffleboard in the assembled position, and

HO. 2 is a view of the shuffleboard in its disassembled position in the form of a portable package.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the shuffleboard is comprised of two sections, generally referred to as A and B, respectively, each of which are substantially the same length, e.g., approximately 4 feet. Section A includes a flat, rectangular wood member a having sidewalls Ila-11a projecting vertically therefrom. One end of member 10a is connected by conventional fastening or sealing means (not shown) to an end portion, generally referred to at 12a, having an end wall 13a and contiguous sidewalls 14a-14a, said walls along with wall 15a of member 10a forming a recess portion 16a. A magnet 117a is provided in end wall 13a at a distance slightly above the top surface of member 10a.

Located at the other end of member 10a is front wall 18a having a magnet 19a therein. The function of magnets 17a and 19a will be described hereinafter. A pair of threaded members 20-20 extend downwardly from said other end of member 10a and are utilized in the aligning and connecting of section A with section B.

Located beneath member 10a is a single pair of supporting legs 21-21 which are pivotally connected at 22-22, as seen in FIG. 2, by conventional fastening means such as a riveted pin, latch, etc. A crossbar 23 interconnects legs 21-21, said crossbar having a rod 24, pivotal thereon at 25, and angularly extending from the midsection thereof for connection of its flat end portion 26 with a latching device 27, when the shuffleboard is in the assembled position. When section A is in the disassembled position, as seen in FIG. 2, pivotal rod 24 extends linearly with member 10a and is secured, in a spring-type latching device 28 located beneath and at the far end of said member 10a. Each of the lower ends of legs 21-21 are provided with adjustable members 29-29 so that when section A is assembled with section B, the legs may be adjusted vertically to permit member 10a to be in a parallel spaced relationship with a substantially horizontal surface which supports the legs.

Section B is similar to and complementary with section A and includes a flat, rectangular wood member 10b having sidewalls 1117-1 1b projecting vertically therefrom. One end of member 10b is connected by conventional fastening or sealing means (not shown) to an end portion, generally referred to at 12b, having an end wall 13b and contiguous sidewalls 14b-14b said walls together with wall 15b of member 10b forming a recess portion 16b. A magnet 17b is provided in end wall 13b at a distance slightly above the top surface of member 10b.

An extension 31 projects from the lower portion of front wall lbb and is provided with a pair of openings 32-32 for receiving the threaded members 20-20 when sections A and B are assembled. As will be seen, when the sections are assembled, extension 31 assists in supporting section A. Further, extension 31 is located at the lower portion of member 10b such that when member 10a is joined therewith, the top surface of 10a and 10b precisely extends longitudinally in the same horizontal plane. A magnet 19b is provided in the front wall of extension 31 which faces front wall 18a of member 10a. The function of magnets 17b and 19b will be described hereinafter.

Located beneath member 1012 are two pairs of supporting legs 33-33 and 34-34, respectively, the former being disposed in an area slightly behind extension 31 and the latter being disposed in an area below end portion 12b. The legs 33-33 and 34-34 are constructed and function in a similar manner as described with respect to legs 21-21 of member 100. It should be noted, however, that when legs 33-33 and 34-34 are vertically disposed and their respective pivotal rods are angularly extended towards each other and connected to their respective latching devices, section 10b will be fully supported by same and disposed in a parallel spaced relationship to a substantially horizontal surface for supporting said legs.

After the legs of sections A and B are extended for assembly, threaded members 20-20 of section A are inserted in their respective openings 32-32 of section B, thereby causing members 10a and 10b to be connected together and to extend in the same plane. Wing nuts 35-35 or other fastening means are provided for threaded members 20-20 so as to securely join members 10a and 10b together. It is now apparent that legs 33-33 and extension 31 of section B provide the necessary support along with legs 21-21 for holding section A in the assembled position. Wooden discs or weights 40-40, customarily used in the shuffleboard game, are illustrated on section 10a.

When it is desirable to remove, transport or store the board from one area to another, it may be quickly disassembled into a neat package. Section A is removed from section B by unscrewing nuts 35-35 from threaded members 20-20. The pivotal rods 24 of each section are unlocked from their respective latches 27 and relocated in their respective latching devices 28 so that all the legs, that is, 21-21, 33-33, and 34-34 extend linearly in substantially parallel relationship with members 10a and 10b.

The top surface of members 10a and 10b are then placed in intimate contact with each other, e.g., member 10b is inverted and its front wall 18b is moved towards end portion 12a until magnet 19b, of one polarity (positive), contacts magnet 17a, of another polarity (negative), thereby facilitating a securing at end 12a. Similarly and simultaneously, there is relative movement towards end 12b; namely, front wall 18a of member 10a is moved towards end 12b whereupon magnet 19a contacts magnet 17b the magnets being of opposite polarity, thus resulting in a magnetic connection.

While the package thus prepared is neat at this point and may be handled rather easily, handling is simplified and made more convenient by providing a fastening means such as a strap 36 having split handles 37-37 thereon. The strap is quickly placed around disassembled sections A and B and the split handles joined so that an individual may easily pick up and transport the package from place to place.

While this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

lclaim:

1. A portable miniature shuffleboard which comprises:

first and second sections of substantially equal lengths, each having a flat rectangular top surface, an end wall, contiguous sidewalls with the end wall, and a recess formed in each section by the rearmost end portion of the top surface together with said end wall and contiguous walls;

supporting means attached to the first section and capable of holding said first section in substantially parallel relationship to a horizontal surface",

supporting means attached to said second section and capable of holding said second section in substantially parallel relationship to a horizontal surface;

latch means for respectively holding the supporting means of each section in a substantially parallel relationship with said rectangular top surfaces in the form of a package;

means including an extension which extends from the lower portion of the frontmost end of said first section for assembling said first section with the second section such that said extension extends beneath the end of said first section to support said second end section thereon, said sections extending in the same horizontal plane;

means associated with said first and second sections for holding same in a substantially rectangularly shaped package wherein the top surface of each section is in intimate contact with the other, the frontmost end portion of each section is adjacent to the end wall of the other section and enclosed by the contiguous walls thereof;

magnets of one polarity on the rearmost and frontmost end portion of one section; and

magnets of the opposite polarity on the rearmost and front- 

1. A portable miniature shuffleboard which comprises: first and second sections of substantially equal lengths, each having a flat rectangular top surface, an end wall, contiguous sidewalls with the end wall, and a recess formed in each section by the rearmost end portion of the top surface together with said end wall and contiguous walls; supporting means attached to the first section and capable of holding said first section in substantially parallel relationship to a horizontal surface; supporting means attached to said second section and capable of holding said second section in substantially parallel relationship to a horizontal surface; latch means for respectively holding the supporting means of each section in a substantially parallel relationship with said rectangular top surfaces in the form of a package; means including an extension which extends from the lower portion of the frontmost end of said first section for assembling said first section with the second section such that said extension extends beneath the end of said first section to support said second end section thereon, said sections extending in the same horizontal plane; means associated with said first and second sections for holding same in a substantially rectangularly shaped package wherein the top surface of each section is in intimate contact with the other, the frontmost end portion of each section is adjacent to the end wall of the other section and enclosed by the contiguous walls thereof; magnets of one polarity on the rearmost and frontmost end portion of one section; and magnets of the opposite polarity on the rearmost and frontmost end portion of the other section, said magnet of the rearmost portion of said one section making a magnetic connection with the magnet on the frontmost portion of the other section, and said magnet on the frontmost portion of said one section making a magnetic connection with the magnet on the rearmost portion of said other section, thereby causing said sections to have end to end magnetic connections with each other. 